Author: David Haldeman

Wednesday January 19 1938
Mary Burtch Johnston has a son. Born yesterday at City Hospital. Walt wrote that news & that’s all. Hope everything is ok.
Stan has decided to stick around. Ed Lauer had a 1 ½ hr talk with him last night & persuaded him.
Wrote letter to Mary tonight. Walt won’t get one this week- I thought it was Tuesday but it’s Wednesday.
-Listened to “One Man’s Family”. Ann & Clifford Case have split up- and doesn’t like physical contacts.—
Played a couple hands of bridge & read- To bed around 10:00.

Tuesday January 18 1938
I’ve been losing out steadily on sleep- want to try to catch up tonight. Stan in a confiding mood today. All off between he & Helen. – Yes again. She doesn’t understand why he’s going to quit Godman’s if no raise forthcoming.- I’d think he’d get tired calling the whole thing off and starting up again every couple weeks- No decision on his raise yet.
Candy business booking. – Sold 50 cents worth today. But had to give Stan two. (He paid for them on Wed.)
Met Helen Wood on Broad St tonight- talked for a few minutes.

Monday January 17 1938
Had quite a time managing my suit case & round tin box with chocolate bars but got to work somehow. Sold 7 bars today. But I’ll have to have more variety.
Notice came around today- all salaried employees making more than $25 wk will not be paid overtime. Stan gets $25 per but has boosted it to $35 or $40 with overtime- Says he’s quitting pronto unless he’s raised to $35 immediately. (Told me today Ed Lauer said Fri that I might get raise.)
Clara Bickel & I played contract tonight with Margaret & Eleanor Ferguson at their house.

Sunday January 16 1938
Mrs. Fout has taken the superintendency of the Primary Dept. Mrs. Smith leaving after 14 years.
Bernard came down after SS. He has a new car- 1937 Chevy Sedan- Black- Took us a little ride. Sooo nice.
Fooled the afternoon away sleeping & reading.
Mt. Gilead Baptist Church & Trinity traded choirs & ministers for evening services- Senior BY visited Intermediate. What a mess-
I stayed for church while Walt sulked outside in the car. After he had gone to bed I went in to talk to him. No use.

Saturday January 15 1938
Up at 7:30 & walked to Smiths with Walt- Left mother’s grocery order. Fuller Brush salesman here & ordered broom- wall brush- duster- furniture.
Bought 2 boxes chocolate bars. Hope to make enough on them to buy my brushes.
While mother & Mary where uptown I pressed clothes- had a bath- studied- sewed carpet rags & read.
Wally & I went to the Palace to see “Wells Fargo” I enjoyed it but wept at all the love scenes. Why? Followed Farley & Pauling home & visited out there until about 11:00- To bed around 12:30.

Friday January 14 1938
Stanley went to Lancaster with Ed Lauer this morning about 10:00- and did things go nicely all day! Quite peaceful.
Home on bus- Walt met me & we went to the Library & got a copy of Emily Post’s Book of Etiquette.
Mother has finished a small crocheted rug of squares & has my big one about 5 ½ x 3- so pretty.
Stopped at Lazarus on way home & bought challis for comfort & a book on contract [bridge].
Walt says he didn’t get a raise. Usually does every 6 mo & I had counted on it- Oh me.

Thursday January 13 1938
My last hopes for a raise faded today- $17 per is my limit I guess.
After bridge lesson went up to Frances Campbells to play. She’s planning to be married in April or May & wouldn’t consider undertaking to build a house now- feels too inexperienced.
I don’t get all theis moaning over contract- I don’t play well- haven’t played enough- but you have rules- follow them! Personally I don’t think they’re nearly as hard to understand & put into practise as the rules of the Consolidated Freight Classifications- But maybe I’ll learn differently.

Wednesday January 12 1938
I’d like to study character description so I could adequately express my contempt for and disgust at Stanley Kuhn. -Yes Stanley Kuhn the infallible. The polished perfect specimen. The episode of the calendar he took from me to give to Helen. She sent it back to me but he put it in box & sent it back to her.- Then everything I do it’s wrong- no matter how well it’s done or how much I’ve helped him by doing it- Oh! I got so mad- If I didn’t have visions of a house I’m afraid I’d be looking for a job tonight.

Tuesday January 11 1938
On way home stopped for cookies & apples. After about 5 telephone calls this evening Clara- Evelyn- Eleanor & Mary F came over for bridge- I hope they enjoyed themselves as much as I did- left about 10:30.
Wrote letter to Wally before girls came giving him some dope Walter Snyder at work had given me on pumps- etc.
The snow has turned to slop. If it freezes tonight it really will be a mess. (Stan borrowed my pen- Bill took his 2 fountain pens & the other is broken.)

Monday January 10 1938
Snow- about 3 inches- so pretty but treacherous coming down this morning.
“Stan- Social Worker – His stories of “Charity Newsies” – cases are pitiful.
I’ve decided to buy $10 books of tickets for $7.50 & save money on bus fare.
Gave Chaz a rubber tire ash tray this morning (Wally paid for it)
Wally said he’d buy the dishes I looked at at Lazarus Friday. Service for 8- $8.95- called them and told them to deliver them to Marion.